Projects

Mother Health International (MHI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to respond and provide relief to pregnant women and children in areas of disaster, war and extreme economic poverty. We are committed to reducing perinatal mortality rates by creating culturally competent and sustainable birth centers using the midwifery model of care.

Our Model: We view access to health care as a basic human right. Our primary goal is to improve reproductive healthcare and reduce perinatal mortality in areas with the highest burden of mortality. The UNFPA estimates that 80% of babies are born into the hands of traditional midwives in rural areas. We see it as imperative to protect the role of these midwives while creating effective models for reduction of perinatal mortality. We work alongside traditional midwives to provide comprehensive maternal health care and education within a model that is sustainable for the local communities served.
When a woman comes to our clinic, she joins a community committed to maternal health; she has a network of support to answer her questions, counseling to work through trauma from violence or domestic abuse, prenatal screening for potential risk factors, medicine to treat illness and infection, prenatal vitamins, and a phone number for a vehicle that will pick her up in labor. Once in labor women are brought to our clean and always staffed clinics, given one on one care throughout delivery and post partum, have access to emergency medicine and skilled midwives, access to an ambulance for emergency transport, are given food and clean water in labor, and given at least 12-24 hours of post partum care before being driven home. Our outcomes are significantly better than national averages and we attribute this to holistic and attentive midwifery care.

Creating spaces where women can access comprehensive care by midwives in their own communities and also join in community restoration efforts is intrinsic to our mission. Our outcomes make it clear that our model works to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Simultaneously, we are combating the violence and trauma that women often experience giving birth in overcrowded and understaffed hospitals.

Mother Health International

We are a collective of midwives, doctors, activists and academics from countries around the world.
We believe that access to quality healthcare is an essential human right.
We work to break down issues of race, class and gender that keep women from accessing care.
Our clinics are a manifestation of grassroots, hand in hand collaborative work.
We welcome collaboration of skills, ideas and support.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact us here